Could you pass the new citizenship test? An attempt to 'summarize the basic concepts of American democracy' in 100 questions.

• Author: Semple, Kirk
• Position: NATIONAL

For those of us who weren't born here, it's never been easy to become a citizen. And as of October 1, in addition to passing a reading and writing test of English proficiency, all immigrants going through the naturalization process must pass a new civics exam that some say is much harder than the test it replaced.

Immigration officials say the new test is an attempt to put more emphasis on basic concepts of American history, government, and democracy, and that some people may find it easier.

The civics test is oral, with an examiner asking the applicant 10 questions from a list of 100, all of which are available online. * Applicants must answer 6 of the 10 questions correctly, and are given two chances to pass; those who fail twice can reapply for naturalization immediately.

Some immigrant-advocacy groups have said the new test is more abstract, and therefore tougher. But Alfonso Aguilar of Citizenship and Immigration Services (part of the federal Department of Homeland Security) says that in a test of the new exam, 92 percent of participants passed on their first try.

"We try--in 100 questions and answers--to summarize the basic concepts of American democracy," says Aguilar.

Now it's your turn. Try answering the following 30 questions from the new test, and see if you have what it takes to earn American citizenship.

AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

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1. WHAT IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND?

2. THE IDEA OF SELF-GOVERNMENT IS IN THE FIRST THREE WORDS OF THE CONSTITUTION. WHAT ARE THESE WORDS?

3. WHAT DO WE CALL THE FIRST 10 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION?

4. WHO IS ONE OF YOUR STATE'S U.S. SENATORS?

5. WHAT IS THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES?

6. NAME ONE BRANCH OR PART OF THE GOVERNMENT.

7. HOW MANY JUSTICES ARE ON THE SUPREME COURT?

8. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

9. HOW OLD DO CITIZENS HAVE TO BE TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT?

10. WHAT ARE TWO CABINET-LEVEL POSITIONS?

    AMERICAN HISTORY

11. WHAT IS ONE REASON COLONISTS CAME TO AMERICA?

12. WHO LIVED IN AMERICA BEFORE EUROPEANS ARRIVED?

13. WHO WROTE THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE?

14. WHEN WAS THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ADOPTED?

15. THERE WERE 13 ORIGINAL STATES. NAME THREE.

16. WHAT DID SUSAN B. ANTHONY DO?

17. NAME ONE WAR FOUGHT BY THE UNITED STATES IN THE 1800s.

18. WHAT DID MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DO?

19. WHO WAS PRESIDENT DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND WORLD WAR II?

20. DURING THE COLD WAR, WHAT WAS THE MAIN CONCERN OF THE...